Should you visit Dubai or Mexico City?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Dubai and Mexico City can help you decide which place is right for you.
Dubai
Ever wonder what it would be like to see the lifestyles of the rich and famous up close. There's no more upscale destination than Dubai. It's by far and away the spot for shopping, partying, sunbathing, fine dining and the most luxurious of luxury. As the most modern and progressive of the seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates, this area has experienced an unbelievable economic boom and tourism spike. It's a desert city with an amazing infrastructure.
Mexico City
Mexico City is one of the largest and most populated cities in the world. There are an estimated 26 million people living in the greater Mexico City metropolitan area. The area is about 60 kilometers by 40 kilometers and is surrounded by tall mountains and volcanoes on three sides. Mexico City proper has about 8.8 million people and is the capital of the country. More than a third of the country's economy is based here, making it the wealthiest city in all of Latin America.
Which city is cheaper, Mexico City or Dubai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Dubai is $198, while the average daily cost in Mexico City is $138. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Dubai and Mexico City in more detail.
Accommodation
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $272 in Dubai For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $44 in Mexico City For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Local Transportation
Dubai's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $10 per person, per day on transportation in Dubai.
Mexico City's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $8.86 per person, per day on transportation in Mexico City.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Dubai
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dubai:
-
Taxi Ride
$12
-
Airport Taxi
$12
-
Sea Taxi
$0.54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dubai
Also for Dubai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
airport transfers/arival and departures:
$28
-
Zipline Experience in Dubai Marina with Private transfers:
$286
-
Wild Wadi tickets with Sharing Transfers:
$87
-
Wild Wadi Without Transfer:
$92
-
Wild Wadi Waterpark Experience with Private Transfers:
$150
-
Wild Wadi Water Park with Transfer:
$100
-
Wild Wadi Water Park in Dubai With 2 way Transfer:
$125
-
Wild Wadi Water Park Dubai on Sharing Transfer:
$72
-
Wild Wadi Tickets with Transfers:
$110
-
Wild Wadi Dubai water park Entrance with Optional Private transfers in Dubai:
$66
-
Wheelchair Accessible Airport Transfer in Dubai:
$107
-
Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi with Private Transfer From Dubai for 1 to 6 people:
$808
Typical Local Transportation prices in Mexico City
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Mexico City:
-
Metro
$1.01
-
Uber Ride
$3.53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mexico City
Also for Mexico City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Private Business Transfer from Mexico City Airport (MEX) to Mexico City Center:
$158
-
Private Business Transfer from Mexico City Center to Mexico City Airport (MEX):
$158
-
Private Airport Transfer between Chiang Mai to/from Chiang Rai:
$156
-
Private Departure Transfer from Mexico City hotels to Mexico City airport:
$103
-
Departure Private Transfer Mexico City to Mexico City Airport MEX in an SUV:
$100
-
Private Departure Transfer Mexico City to Mexico City Airport:
$88
-
Sedan Car Private MX Airport Transfer:
$84
-
Private Round Transfer from Mexico City Airport:
$74
-
Mexico Airport Transfers : Mexico City to Mexico Airport MEX in Luxury Van:
$67
-
Mexico Airport Transfers : Mexico City to Mexico Airport MEX in Luxury SUV:
$67
-
Departure Private Transfers: Mexico City to Mexico Airport MEX in Luxury Van:
$67
-
Mexico City Airport Round Shared Transfer:
$66
Is it cheaper to fly into Dubai or Mexico City?
Prices for flights to both Mexico City and Dubai change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
The average traveler spends about $45 per day in Dubai for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
While meal prices in Mexico City can vary, the average travelers spends about $18 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Mexico City should cost around $7.20 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Mexico City is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Dubai $45
Mexico City $18
Typical Food prices in Dubai
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Dubai:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dubai
For Dubai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Romantic Dhow Creek Dinner Cruise With Live Shows and International Buffet:
$17
-
Sightseeing Dhow Cruise Dinner:
$18
-
Dubai Deira Cruise with International Buffet Dinner with Live Shows:
$19
-
Cruising with Dinner and Live Shows at Dubai Creek:
$20
-
Dubai Creek Dhow Cruise Dinner:
$20
-
Dhow Dinner Cruise at Dubai Creek (Without Transfers):
$20
-
Sail along the Dubai Creek Dhow cruise with a delectable Dinner from AED 60:
$21
-
Sightseeing Romantic Dhow Cruise Dinner:
$21
-
Dhow Cruise Dinner Dubai:
$22
-
Dhow Cruise Dinner on Dubai Creek:
$22
-
Evening Dhow Dinner Cruise in Dubai:
$22
-
Dubai Creek 2-Hour Romantic Dhow Cruise Dinner:
$23
Typical Food prices in Mexico City
For Mexico City, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Lunch for Two
$11
-
Coffee and Snacks
$3.93
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mexico City
For Mexico City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Traveling Spoon Mexican Tacos and Tortillas Private Online Cooking Class:
$27
-
Withlocals The 10 Tastings: Mexico City Private Food Tour:
$60
-
Private Contemporary Mexican Cooking Class Inspired by Family Recipes:
$68
-
3–Hour Polanco Food Tour:
$75
-
Mexican Cooking Class:
$79
-
Mexico City Private Traditional Pre-Hispanic Cooking Class:
$83
-
Private Mexican Cooking Lesson in a Coyoacan Apartment:
$86
-
Wrestling show and a Mexican dinner:
$101
-
Private Market Tour and Authentic Mexican Cooking Class with a Local in Coyoacan:
$105
-
Mexican Cooking Lesson in a Local Home:
$106
-
Authentic Mexican Cooking Lesson With a Gastronomic Historian in Mexico City:
$109
-
Dinner at El Lago Lakeside Restaurant Mexico City:
$110
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Dubai can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $15 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Mexico City can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $10 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Typical Entertainment prices in Dubai
For Dubai, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Tours and Activities in Dubai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dubai.
-
"Glimps of History"-4 Hrs Dubai city tour:
$163
-
04 Days Best of Dubai With Desert Safari, Dhow Cruise and City Tour:
$305
-
1 Day 2 Tours Combo:
$76
-
1 Hour Jet Ski Tour of Dubai Atlantis:
$153
-
1 Hour Private 800cc Buggy Tour Good for 2 persons:
$220
-
1 Hour Private Jet Ski Tour in Dubai:
$195
-
1 hour Mina Seyahi Jetski Tour:
$160
-
1.5-Hours Dubai Historic Old Town Walking Tour: Covid-19 safe & PRIVATE tour:
$60
-
1001 Adventure Tour:
$71
-
12 Hours Dubai Stopover Tour:
$350
-
12-Minute Dubai Helicopter Tour:
$176
-
2 Days TRIO-Dubai City Tour with Desert Safari and Full Day Abu Dhabi City Tour.:
$136
Tours and Activities in Mexico City
For Mexico City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
15-Day Trip in Mexico: North 2 South Adventures:
$1,553
-
2 Days Private Guided Tour: City of the Gods, Xochimilco:
$192
-
6-Night Best of Central Mexico Tour: Teotihuacan Pyramids, Taxco, Cuernavaca and Puebla from Mexico City:
$575
-
7 Day-Monarch Butterfly Ecofriendly Tour in Mexico:
$2,369
-
8-Day Best of Mexico Tour: Mexico City to Cancun:
$1,475
-
Afternoon Private Tour: Teotihuacan:
$132
-
Amazing 5 day Cycling & Adventure trip in Veracruz with NOMAD Adventures:
$2,254
-
Anthropology Museum Teotihuacan Pyramids and Mexico City Private Tour:
$221
-
Artist Studio Tour in Mexico City:
$140
-
Atvforestal Special 2 to 3 hour Tour (2 Atv´s, 2 Riders):
$270
-
Best of Mexico City Private Tour:
$129
-
Buenos Aires by Night Private City Tour with Tango Show:
$190
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Dubai, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $18.
Typically, people visiting Mexico City spend on average $14 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typical Alcohol prices in Dubai
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Dubai:
Sample the Local Flavors in Mexico City
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Mexico City:
-
Full-Day Peña de Bernal Wine Tours:
$220
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dubai and Mexico City, we can see that Dubai is more expensive. And not only is Mexico City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dubai is in Middle East and Mexico City is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Mexico City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mexico City and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Dubai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dubai than you might in Mexico City.
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